JPH0460673A - Developing device for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the toner supply by attaching a cartridge to a developing device main body through a cartridge attaching base and providing this cartridge attaching base so that it can be freely taken in and out of the device main body. CONSTITUTION:A cartridge 24 is attached to a developing device main body 17 through a cartridge attaching base 23, and the cartridge attaching base 23 is so provided that it can be freely taken in and out of an electrophotographic device main body like a color laser printer main body 10. When the toner runs out, the cartridge attaching base 23 is pulled out, and the empty cartridge 24 is replaced, and the cartridge attaching base 23 is pushed in again. Thus, the toner replenishing work is simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention can be applied to electrophotographic devices that record on a recording medium using an electrophotographic method, such as printers, copiers, and facsimiles that use lasers. Specifically, in such an electrophotographic device, a toner cartridge is replaceably attached to the developing device body to replenish toner.
The present invention relates to a developing device that attaches the toner to a photoreceptor and develops a latent image on the photoreceptor.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of developing device has used a toner cartridge as a toner replenishing means, and the toner cartridge has been incorporated into the developing device to replenish the toner. Furthermore, especially in the case of color printers, there are many developing devices.

Incorporating the cartridge into the developing device increases the size of the electrophotographic device. In order to prevent this, there have been some devices in which the cartridges are separated from the developing device, several types of cartridges are placed side by side, and the toner is sent from there to the developing device using a conveying means such as a screw.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional developing device in which a cartridge is incorporated into the developing device, the large and heavy developing device must be pulled out from the main body of the electrophotographic device each time toner is replenished.

Furthermore, it was also necessary to remove the cartridge from the developing device and replace it. Further, at this time, there is a problem in that the toner remaining in the cartridge spills out of the cartridge and adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the cartridge, staining the inside of the electrophotographic apparatus main body or the floor surface, or adhering to hands.

Therefore, in order to prevent toner from scattering on the floor etc. when the cartridge is removed and toner from adhering to the outer periphery of the cartridge, it is necessary to clean the cartridge removal opening with a short-bristled brush, etc. Some were equipped with parts.

However, as the number of times the cartridge is replaced increases, the cleaning member gets dirty, the cleaning ability decreases, and the cleaning effect becomes ineffective.

In addition, if the cartridge is separated from the developing device, such as a color printer, which has a large number of developing devices and a large number of types of replenishing toner, toner blocking is likely to occur during transportation from the cartridge to the developing device. Therefore, the cost of the transport mechanism was high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic photographic camera that is low cost, easy to replenish toner, and does not stain the floor, the hands of the person replenishing toner, or the machine stand. The purpose is to provide a developing device for the device.

Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, the present invention as set forth in claim 1, for example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment below, is capable of attaching a toner cartridge 24 to the developing device main body 17 in a replaceable manner and replenishing the toner. In a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus that attaches toner to a photoreceptor 14 and develops a latent image on the photoreceptor 14, the cartridge 24 is attached to the developing device main body 17 via a cartridge mounting base 23, and the cartridge is attached. For example, the stand 23 is the color laser printer body 1.
It is characterized in that it is provided so that it can be freely inserted into and taken out from the main body of an electrophotographic apparatus such as 0.

In addition, as shown in the illustrated embodiments below, the present invention further provides an example in which, when the cartridge mounting base 23 is pulled out, the pull-out stop position is detected based on a detection signal from a toner end detection means. It is characterized by being provided with a drawer stop position detecting means such as a drawer position detecting sensor 44.

Further, in the present invention as described in claim 3, for example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment below, when the cartridge mounting base 23 is pulled out, toner is supplied to the developing device main body 17 based on a detection signal from a toner end detection means. It is characterized by being provided with cleaning means 45 for cleaning the passage.

According to the present invention, when the toner runs out, the cartridge mount 23 is pulled out and the empty cartridge 24 is replaced. Then, push in the cartridge mounting base 23 again.

In the second aspect of the present invention, when the cartridge reaches the end of toner and the mounting base 23 is pulled out by the cartridge based on a detection signal from the detection means, the pull-out position detection means stops the mounting base 23 at the shortest necessary distance.

Further, in the third aspect of the invention, when the cartridge mounting base 23 is pulled out, the cleaning means 45 cleans the toner supply passage to the developing device main body 17.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a color laser printer having a developing device, which is an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. It's a paper cassette. Then, the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 11 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow by the paper feed roller 12, and the registration roller 1
3, the latent image is conveyed to the lower side of the belt-shaped photoreceptor 14, which is a latent image carrier.

The photoreceptor 14 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow C, and after being charged with a charger 15, an optical writing unit 16 irradiates a laser beam with a yellow image signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 14. do. Then, this electrostatic latent image is developed in the yellow developing device main body 17b containing yellow toner of the developing device main body 17 for each color, and a yellow toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 14. During this time, the developing device main bodies 17a, 17c, and 17d for colors other than yellow, black, blue, and red, are adjusted to prevent toner from scattering.

After development with yellow toner, the entire surface of the photoreceptor 14 is irradiated with a discharge lamp 18 to optically eliminate the yellow electrostatic latent image. Next, as in the formation of the yellow toner image above, charging, exposure, and
By repeating development and optical static elimination, respective toner images are formed by the red developing device main body 17c, the blue developing device main body 17d, and the black developing device main body 17a. After all the toner development is completed, the electrostatic latent image is optically neutralized using the static eliminating lamp 19, and is electrostatically transferred onto the paper 70 using the transfer charger 20. The toner image transferred to the paper P is fixed by the fixing roller 21, and the paper P is discharged in the direction B.

On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 14 after electrostatic transfer is
The blade 22a of the cleaning unit 22 is attached to the photoreceptor 1.
4 and removed, completing one cycle of color image formation.

Said developing device! 17 denotes black, yellow, red, and blue developing device main bodies 17a to 17b and 17c in order from the right in the figure.
・17d are installed in parallel. Then, the developing device main body 17
The upper part of the is open, and a cartridge mounting base 23 is provided on the upper part, and black, blue, red, and black cartridges 24 are mounted in parallel on this cartridge mounting base 23.
Toner is caused to fall from a, 24b, 24c, and 24d into the respective developing device main bodies 17a-17b-17C-17d by their own weight. The cartridge mounting base 23 is inserted into the printer main body 10 in the direction in which the developing device main bodies 17 are arranged, and slidably pulled out. And the cartridge mounting base 23.

Only when replenishing toner, as shown by the dashed line in the figure, is removed from the printer main body IO, and the cartridge 24 is replaced, for example, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG.
is urged outward by. Then, a claw 27a provided on a lever 27, which is attached at one end to the printer body 10 and is rotatable around the attachment part 26, hooks on a stopper 23a provided on the cartridge mount 23, and the cartridge mount 23 is moved outward. It is held in the biased state.

Further, the lever 27 is pushed toward the cartridge mounting base 23 by a spring 28 provided near the center thereof, and the claw 27 is pushed toward the cartridge mounting base 23.
a is prevented from coming off the stopper 23a.

A rack 29 in the sliding direction is provided at the back of the cartridge mounting base 23, and a gear 30 that meshes with this rack 29 is used.

The cartridge 24, which is attached to the cartridge mounting base 23 that connects the torque limiter 31 provided in the printer main body 10, is shaped like a cylindrical container with a slit 32a in the length direction, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. So, case 3
A cylindrical container-shaped shutter 33 is provided inside the container 2 and is rotatable in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface thereof, and this shutter 33 is provided with a slit 33a that can correspond to the slit 32a.

Further, a pulley 34 extending from the end of the case 32 is provided coaxially with the shutter 33 at one end of the shutter 33, and an agitator 35 having a rotating shaft at the axis of the shutter 33 is provided within the shutter 33. Then, one end of the rotating shaft is made to protrude out of the case 32 from the end of the shutter 33 opposite to the pulley 34, and a gear 36 is attached to this.

In addition, the cartridge receiving part of the cartridge mounting base 23 is
A recess 23b having a substantially semicircular cross section is provided in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the cartridge mounting base 23. And at the bottom of this recess 23b.

The longitudinal slit 37 of the recess 23b is inserted into the cartridge 2.
The cartridge 24 is formed by aligning the slit 32a and the slit 33a with this slit 37. The protrusions 32b on the curved surfaces at both ends of the case 32 of the cartridge 24 are connected to the recess 2.
This is to prevent the cartridge 24 housed in the cartridge 3b from rotating and to position the slit 37.

Then, when the cartridge 24 in use runs out of toner, pressing the free end of the lever 27 drives the pulley 34 of the cartridge 24 by an appropriate means (not shown), rotates the shutter 33, and changes the position of the slit 33a. As the cartridge slides out of the slit 32a and closes the slit 32a, the claw 27a comes off the stopper 23a, and the cartridge mounting base 23 is pulled out by the coil spring 25. At this time, due to the operation of the torque limiter 31, the cartridge mounting base 23 slides slowly, so that toner is not spilled due to impact. and,
Replace the empty cartridge 24 with a new cartridge 24, insert the cartridge 24 into the recess 23b of the cartridge mount 23, and insert the slit 23a into the slit 37 of the recess 23b.
be installed in a condition consistent with After replacing the cartridge 24, attach the cartridge mounting base 23 to the stopper 23a and the claw 2.
7a until it engages with the cartridge mounting base 2.
3 is held inserted into the printer main body 10. Next, the pulley 34 of the cartridge 24 is driven by an appropriate means (not shown) to rotate the shutter 33 so that the slit 33a is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 6, for example. When the toner in the cartridge 24 is aligned with the slit 32a, the toner in the cartridge 24 falls from the slit 33a through the slits 32a and 37. Further, the gear 36 of the cartridge 24 is a gear of a motor (not shown) provided on the cartridge mounting base 23,
They are engaged via a clutch, and when the clutch is turned on, the toner is agitated and smoothly supplied to the developing device main body 17.

Further, in FIG. 7, the cartridge mounting base 23 is automatically stopped at the push-in position and the pull-out position. As shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge mounting base 23 is provided with a rack 38 in the drawing direction at the back thereof, and is connected to the motor 40 via a gear 39 that meshes with the rack 38. Also,
The printer main body 10 is provided with a switch 41 that detects when the cartridge mounting base 23 has come out to a predetermined position, and a switch 42 that detects the original inserted state.

When replacing the cartridge 24, when the motor 40 is switched on, the shutter 33 closes and the gear 39 and rack 38 pull out the cartridge mounting base 23. The projected protrusion 23c presses the switch 41, and the detection signal causes the cartridge mounting base 23 to stop.

When the cartridge 24 is replaced and the gear 39 is rotated in the reverse direction, the cartridge mounting base 23 is inserted and the protrusion 23c is inserted.
is stopped in the same way by pressing the switch 42, the shutter 33 is opened, and the toner is supplied to the developing device main body 17.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the cartridge mounting base 23, and this cartridge mounting base 23 has a concave portion 23b having the same structure as the cartridge mounting base 23 of the previous embodiment.
has. In addition, a rack 38 in the sliding direction is provided on the bottom surface of the rear of the cartridge mounting base 23, and a rack 38 is provided in the sliding direction.
It is designed to mesh with a drive gear 39 of a motor 40 provided inside. A protrusion 43 is provided on the upper surface of the portion of the cartridge mounting base 23 that moves within the printer body 10. In addition, one of the cartridges 24 mounted on the cartridge mounting base 23 is located inside the printer main body 10.
The motor 40 is driven by the toner end detection signals of the black, blue, red, and yellow cartridges 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d arranged in parallel from the right side in the figure, and the cartridge mounting base 23 is pulled out. There is. 44
d, 44c, 44b, and 44a are cartridges 24d, 24c, and 2 provided in order from the right side in the printer main body 10.
4b and 24a, and when the cartridge mounting base 23 moves in the withdrawal direction and the protrusion 43 comes to the position of each withdrawal position detection sensor 44, the motor 40
is now stopped. This will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In the figure, when the toner end detection sensor is on in step 60,
Proceeding to step 61, the drive motor 40 is turned on, and the cartridge mount 23 is pulled out.6.

In step 62, the protrusion 43 is detected by the pull-out position detection sensor. Next, in step 63, the drive motor 40 is turned off, the cartridge mounting base 23 is stopped, and the cartridge 24 is turned off.
exchange. For example, when the yellow toner runs out, the yellow toner end detection sensor is turned on, and the motor 40 rotates the gear 39 clockwise. Then, the cartridge mounting base 23 slides due to the rack 38 engaged therewith and protrudes from the printer main body 1o.

When the protrusion 43 reaches the position of the pull-out position detection sensor 44d for the yellow cartridge 24d, the motor 40 is stopped and the cartridge 24d is replaced.

That is, the cartridge 24 to be replaced is designed to immediately stop at a position exposed from the printer main body 10, and because it stops at the minimum necessary protruding position, toner can be replenished quickly.

10 and 11 show an embodiment in which a cleaning means 45 is provided on the cartridge mount 23. In FIG. 10, a cleaning brush 46 is installed inside the outlet of the cartridge mount 23 from the printer main body 10. It was established. The brush 46 is housed in a case 47 with an open top, and is driven and rotated in a state in which it presses against the bottom surface of the cartridge mount 23 when the cartridge mount 23 is pulled out in response to a detection signal from a toner end detection sensor. Ru. Therefore, when the cartridge mount 23 is pulled out, the brush 46 is attached to the cartridge mount 23.
Clean the lower part of the slit 37. And the brush 46
The toner adhering to the brush 46 is brushed off by a brushing rod 46a that protrudes perpendicularly to the direction of rotation of the brush 46 inside the case 47, and accumulates inside the case 47, thereby reducing the cleaning ability. maintain.

In FIG. 11, a suction fan 48 is provided inside the outlet of the cartridge mount 23 in the printer main body 10. The suction fan 48 has a filter 49 on the suction side, and the sucked toner is collected on this filter 49. Therefore, when the cartridge mount 23 is pulled out, the suction bow fan 48 is driven to suck the toner adhering to the inside of the slit 37 of the cartridge mount 23.

Note that a brush 46 and a suction fan 48 may be provided together to increase the cleaning effect. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge mounting base 23 in the embodiment described above is provided with LED elements 5o at positions corresponding to the cartridges 24 of each color.

Then, the LE of cartridge 24, which has reached the toner end.
By flashing the D element 50, which cartridge 2
4 to be replaced at a glance, and this function operates even when the printer is stopped.

Effects of the Invention Since the developing device of the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the heavy developing device in which the developing devices of each color are integrated can be protruded from the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, or
Toner can be replenished without taking out a cartridge contaminated with toner from a developing device. Therefore, toner replenishment work is easy, and toner can be replenished without staining the inside of the electrophotographic apparatus main body, its surroundings, and the operator's hands.

Moreover, the developing device according to the invention of claim 2 further includes:

Since only the cartridge to be replaced when replenishing toner is exposed, for example, by placing the black toner cartridge, which is frequently replaced, in the position closest to the outlet,
Toner replenishment can be done quickly and can be done with less drawer space.

In addition to the above-mentioned effects, the developing device according to the invention of claim 3 also has the advantage that when the cartridge mount is pulled out during toner replenishment, the toner replenishing path to the developing device main body is cleaned by a cleaning device with a good cleaning effect. This prevents toner from spilling and does not stain the area around the developing device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a laser printer having a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cartridge mounting base of the developing device in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cartridge attached to the cartridge mount shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the same in the axial direction.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction orthogonal to the axis in the installed state, and FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment of the cartridge mounting base.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the cartridge mount shown in FIG. 7 when the toner runs out, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams showing other embodiments of the cartridge mount. 10...Printer body, 14...
...Photoreceptor, 17...Developing device main body, 23...Cartridge mounting base, 24.
・・・・・・Cartridge, 44・・・・・・・・・
・Drawer position detection sensor (drawer position detection means), 45...
・・・・・・Cleaning means. Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure L U Figure 8 j Figure 10 Figure 11 Procedural amendment (method) 1. Display of the case 1990 Patent Application No. 173615 2 Name of the invention Developing device for electrophotographic equipment 36 Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant Address 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Name Name (
674) Rico Co., Ltd. Representative Hama 1)
Hiro 4, Agent 104 Address 8-1 Ginza 8-10-8, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
0 building 4th floor 6, No number of claims increased due to amendment 7, "Brief explanation of drawings" column 8 of the specification subject to the amendment, Contents of the amendment■ Page 19 of the specification, line 8, "7 "The figure is" is corrected to "Figure 7 and Figure 8 are respectively." (2) In the 10th line of page 19 of the specification, "Fig. 8 is from Fig. 7" is corrected to "Fig. 9 is from Fig. 8."

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Development of an electrophotographic device in which a toner cartridge is replaceably attached to the main body of the developing device, toner is replenished, and the toner is attached to a photoconductor to develop a latent image on the photoconductor. A developing device for an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein the cartridge is attached to the developing device main body via a cartridge mounting base, and the cartridge mounting base is provided so as to be freely removable from and inserted into the electrophotographic apparatus main body. 2. The developing device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pull-out stop position detecting means for detecting a pull-out stop position when the cartridge mount is pulled out based on a detection signal from the toner end detecting means. 3. The developing device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning device for cleaning the toner supply path to the developing device main body when the cartridge mounting base is pulled out based on a detection signal from the toner end detecting device. .